The Volta a Catalunya got off to an unusual start in Monday's first stage. Maciej Paterski (CCC) won ahead of Pierre Rolland (Europcar) and Bart De Clercq (Lotto-Soudal), crossing the finish line 2.40 ahead of the peloton.

"They escaped at km 50, FDJ sports director Thierry Bricaud said. "Since the FDJ team won't win the Tour of Catalonia, it was not up to us to start the pursuit. Finally, everyone looked at each other, it was a question about who would crack first. I did not understand anything."

The three escapees had thirteen minutes with 100 kilometers to go and 10 minutes 35 kilometers from the finish. Of course it was too late.

"The escapees were not caught but it was not the most favorable step for Kevin Reza. We knew that the sprinters would survive the climbs in the finale. We rode fast to finish and four of my riders finished in the bunch, Kevin Reza, Kenny Elissonde who seems to be fine, Jussi Veikkanen and Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier. Our youngsters Olivier Le Gac and Lorrenzo Manzin got dropped but they are learning. However, the absence in front of Alexandre Geniez and Anthony Roux Géniez is incomprehensible."